Recording medium and apparatus for protecting copyrighted digital data

ABSTRACT

Copying, dubbing or reproducing copyrighted digital data can be inhibited or restricted to properly protect a copyright. AV data recorded on a pre-recorded tape is output from a reproducing unit of a first digital VCR with protective information indicating whether the copy of the AV data is inhibited or not. The protective information is input with the A/V data to a second digital VCR. Copy permission information of a blank tape loaded in the second digital VCR is discriminated and the second digital VCR records the AV data supplied from the first digital VCR based on the protective information and the copy permission information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to digital data recording medium, AVapparatus, and AV system which can easily control the recording ordubbing of a digital signal which is supplied from, for example, atelevision station or a digital VCR.

[0002] The invention also relates to a recording medium and a recordingand reproducing apparatus which inhibits or restricts the recording(dubbing) and reproduction of a digital signal in order to protect itscopyright.

[0003] In a digital recording and reproducing apparatus, for example, adigital VCR, there is hardly any deterioration of picture quality orsound quality during a dubbing (i.e., copying) process. Therefore, it isnecessary to inhibit or restrict the dubbing or reproduction of certaindata to protect a copyright. When an analog signal is input, convertedto a digital signal and recorded, copyright protective information issuperimposed in a vertical blanking period (V blanking period) of theanalog signal to inhibit or restrict the dubbing of the digital signal.

[0004] In a pre-recorded tape for a conventional analog VCR, in order toprotect the copyright, a copyright protective signal formed of aplurality of pairs, each comprising a sync pulse and a positive pulse,is superimposed in the V blanking period of the television signal. AnAutomatic Gain Control (AGC) of the recording section of a VCR is“confused” by such a signal, so that the dubbing cannot be performed.That is, in case of illegally copying a pre-recorded tape, the dubbedtape is copied so that it is unreproducible. Thus, the copyright isprotected.

[0005] A VCR for an image compression system has been studied anddeveloped. A digital VCR in which video and audio data are encoded,recorded and reproduced, such as the D1 component system, D2 compositesystem, and the like for business or professional use have been proposedwith copyright protection. For instance, in an industrial-use digitalVCR, signals such as the V blanking period and the horizontal blankingperiod (H blanking period) which do not represent image information arenot recorded. Namely, only signals in the useful image portion areextracted, compressed, and recorded. Upon reproduction, such image datais subjected to processes opposite to those executed upon recording, sothat the V and H blanking periods which were not recorded are added tothe processed image data and the resultant data is output as a compositevideo signal.

[0006]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an AV (audio/video) system fordubbing a pre-recorded tape onto a blank tape using digital VCRs. InFIG. 10, when a pre-recorded tape 101 is reproduced by a VCR 102,digital data, such as AV data, recorded on tape 101 is supplied througha cable 103 to a VCR in which a blank tape 105 is loaded. Tape 101,recorded by a compression system used in professional digital VCRs, asmentioned above, only contain data of the useful image portion;therefore, since there is no V blanking period, the analog VCR copyrightprotection techniques are not adequate when recording or dubbing signalsusing the digital VCR.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a digitaldata recording medium, an AV apparatus, and an AV system which easilypermits, inhibits or restricts the recording or dubbing of a digitalsignal from a television station or a digital VCR.

[0008] It is particularly desired to protect the copyright since thedigital video signal representing the copyrighted program does notdeteriorate when it is dubbed. Therefore, copyright protectiveinformation is superimposed onto the transmitted or pre-recorded digitalsignal to thereby inhibit or restrict the dubbing or reproduction of thesignal. Thus, the copyright can be properly protected.

[0009] It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide arecording medium having copyright protective information to inhibit orrestrict the dubbing and/or the reproduction of a protected signalstored thereon.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a reproducingapparatus which inhibits or restricts the reproduction of a protectedsignal based on copyright protective information on the recordingmedium.

[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide a recording andreproducing apparatus which inhibits or restricts the dubbing and/or thereproduction of a protected signal based on copyright protectiveinformation on the recording medium.

[0012] There is provided a medium with copyright protective informationand digital data stored thereon. A reproducing apparatus reproduces thedigital data and outputs it to a recording apparatus during a dubbingoperation; but the copyright protective information permits or inhibitsrecording of that signal. A copy permission signal in the recordingmedium acts with the copyright protective information to permit orprohibit recording of the digital data.

[0013] Another aspect of the invention provides A/V apparatus into whichthe medium is loaded to perform the reproduction/record or inhibitoperation.

[0014] The copyright protective information is indicative of, forexample, recording permission or inhibition; reproducing permission orinhibition; prepaid fee information for recording time information orits recording time; prepaid fee information for reproducing timeinformation or its reproducing time; royalty per unit of recording time;royalty per unit of reproducing time, etc.

[0015] The copyright protective information is stored with the digitaldata or on the recording medium container, and in either case the A/Vapparatus reads out the information and performs the designatedfunction.

[0016] There are provided recording apparatus, reproducing apparatus,and recording and reproducing apparatus for using the recording mediumand the information mentioned above to record, reproduce, and dubcopyrighted information within legal bounds. Thus, an easier way tocontrol access to the reproduction of copyrighted materials is provided.

[0017] The above and other objects and features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an AV system used for dubbing;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a table showing the relations among protectiveinformation, copy permission information, and copypermission/inhibition;

[0020]FIGS. 3A and 3B are block diagrams of the reproducing andrecording sections of digital VCRs;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a digital VCR used for recording;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the digital VCR used for dubbing;

[0023]FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are diagrams showing methods of recording,storing or adding copy permission information or protective informationonto a pre-recorded tape or a blank tape;

[0024]FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are system diagrams for recording digitalTV data;

[0025]FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D are system diagrams for dubbing using adigital VCR;

[0026]FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D are system diagrams for using protectiveinformation levels of two stages for dubbing using a digital VCR;

[0027]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an AV system for dubbing apre-recorded tape onto a blank tape using digital VCRs;

[0028]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a recording and reproducingsystem to which the invention can be applied;

[0029]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a recording system to which theinvention can be applied;

[0030]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a reproducing system to whichthe invention can be applied;

[0031]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing copyright protective informationsuperimposed in a vertical blanking period;

[0032]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the structure of copyright protectiveinformation superimposed in a vertical blanking period;

[0033]FIG. 16A and 16B are diagrams showing the copyright protectiveinformation superimposed on digital data;

[0034]FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the structure of the copyrightprotective information superimposed on the digital data; and

[0035]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a copyright protective informationpack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be describedhereinbelow with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram ofan AV system used for dubbing AV data and protective informationrecorded on a pre-recorded tape loaded in a reproducing apparatus 1 (forexample, a digital VCR), the reproduced data being output to a recordingapparatus 2 (for example, a digital VCR). The protective information isstored in the digital data of the pre-recorded tape loaded in thereproducing apparatus or, for a transmission system, in the digitaltelevision data (DTV), which will be described later, transmitted from abroadcasting station. This protection information indicates whetherdubbing is permitted or inhibited by the recording apparatus and istransmitted together with the AV data or DTV data. Rather than alwaystransmitting the protective information, the protective information canbe transmitted when dubbing is inhibited and not transmitted whendubbing is permitted.

[0037] A blank tape containing previously recorded copy permissioninformation is loaded in recording apparatus 2. The copy permissioninformation indicates whether the AV or DTV data can be recorded ontothe blank tape. For example, if the copy permission information isindicative-of permission to copy or not onto a blank tape, copyrighteddata can be properly protected. For instance, where the protectiveinformation is not supplied from reproducing apparatus 1 or where theprotective information indicative of the permission to copy is suppliedfrom reproducing apparatus 1, dubbing can be executed regardless of thepermission information recorded on the blank tape. Where the protectiveinformation indicative of copy inhibition is supplied from reproducingapparatus 1, that is, when copyrighted data constitutes the reproducedAV data, the copy permission information is important. Namely, where thecopy permission information is indicative copy inhibition, the signalcannot be dubbed onto the blank tape. However, where the copy permissioninformation is indicative of permission to copy, dubbing can beexecuted.

[0038]FIG. 2 is a table showing the relations among the protectiveinformation, copy permission information, and copypermission/inhibition. As mentioned above, where no protectiveinformation is transmitted, the AV or DTV data can be copied regardlessof the copy permission information of the recording medium loaded in therecording apparatus. In addition, where protective informationindicative of copy inhibition is transmitted from the reproducingapparatus and where there is no copy permission information in therecording medium or the copy permission information is indicative ofcopy inhibition, then copying cannot be performed. Even when theprotective information indicative of the copy inhibition is transmittedfrom the reproducing medium, where the copy permission informationindicates that copying is permitted onto the recording medium, the AV orDTV data can be copied. Where copying is inhibited, the user is notifiedby using, for example, an On Screen Display (OSD) on a monitor or thelike.

[0039]FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams of the recording and reproducingsections of digital VCRs. Reproducing apparatus 1, shown in FIG. 3A,reproduces the AV data recorded on the prerecorded tape from arecording/reproducing unit 3 and outputs the data to a control unit 5.Protective information, previously recorded on the pre-recorded tape, isread from the pre-recorded tape by a protective information reading unit4 and output to control unit 5. The AV data and protective informationare output from the control unit.

[0040] In the recording apparatus 2, shown in FIG. 3B, a control unit 6receives the AV data and protective information transmitted fromreproducing apparatus 1. The AV data and protective information aresupplied from control unit 6 to a recording/reproducing unit 8.

[0041] If the protective information indicates that copying is permittedor if there is no protective information, regardless of the copypermission information stored on the blank tape loaded in recordingapparatus 2, the AV data reproduced by reproducing apparatus 1 can berecorded by recording apparatus 2.

[0042] When the protective information is indicative of copy inhibition,a copy permission information reading unit 7 reads whether copypermission information has been recorded on the loaded blank tape andoutputs the result to control unit 6. Control unit 6 sends a copypermission signal to recording/reproducing unit 8 based on the copypermission information. When there is no copy permission information orwhen the copy permission information is indicative of copy inhibition,the reproduced data cannot be copied. However, when the copy permissioninformation indicates that copying is permitted, the reproduced data canbe copied.

[0043]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a digital VCR used for recording. Thedigital VCR comprises an input/output selector 11, a tuner unit 12, arecording and reproducing apparatus 13 in which a blank tape (not shown)has been loaded, a controller 14, and a power supply circuit 15. Thetuner unit receives broadcasted DTV data and protective informationindicative of whether copying is permitted. The controller generates acontrol signal indicating that data can be recorded by recording andreproducing apparatus 13. When the protective information is nottransmitted from the tuner unit to the controller, a control signalindicating that the DTV data can be recorded regardless of the copypermission information that may be read from the loaded tape is suppliedto the recording and reproducing apparatus.

[0044] When the protective information input to the controller from theDTV data is indicative of copy inhibition, the controller reads copypermission information from the blank tape. If the copy permissioninformation from the blank tape indicates that data can be recorded, theDTV data can be copied; whereas if the copy permission informationindicates recording inhibition, the DTV data cannot be recorded.

[0045]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a digital VCR used for dubbing datafrom a pre-recorded tape. In FIG. 5, the same component elements asthose shown in FIG. 4. are designated by the same reference numerals andso are not described below. Digital data and protective information fromanother digital VCR (not shown) are supplied to a signal processingapparatus 16, through an I/O selector 11. The protective information isinputted from the signal processing apparatus to controller 14. Thecontroller generates a control signal indicating whether the AV data canbe dubbed based on the protective information supplied from the signalprocessing apparatus. If no protective information or if protectiveinformation indicating that copying is permitted is supplied, thendubbing can be performed regardless of copy permission informationstored on the blank tape.

[0046] When protective information indicative of copy inhibition issupplied to the controller 14, the controller reads the copy permissioninformation from the blank tape loaded in recording and reproducingapparatus 13. If the copy permission information indicates that copyingis permitted, such information is output from the recording andreproducing apparatus to the controller. Thus, dubbing can be executed.If the copy permission information indicates copy inhibition, thendubbing cannot be executed.

[0047]FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are diagrams showing a method ofrecording, storing or adding the foregoing copy permission informationor protective information to a pre-recorded tape or a blank tape. InFIG. 6A, a memory device such as ROM, RAM, or the like is built into thetape cassette. The copy permission information or protective informationis stored in the memory device. When the tape is loaded into recordingand/or reproducing apparatus, information data in the memory device isread by that apparatus. In FIG. 6B, the presence of copy permissioninformation or protective information is determined by states ofdetection holes formed on the cassette. In FIG. 6C, bar codes providedon the tape cassette are discriminated by the apparatus to determinewhether copy permission information or protective information is storedon the tape. If FIG. 6D, tracks of copy permission information orprotective information are provided at predetermined positions on thetape (for example, in a longitudinal track in an upper portion of thetape). Copy permission information or protective information may berecorded throughout the entire length of tape or only in a partialinterval of the tape. The copy permission information or protectiveinformation recorded on the longitudinal track is read by a read-onlyfixed head of the apparatus. As mentioned above, by reading the copypermission or protective information in the memory device, detecting thestates of the detection holes, discriminating bar codes, or reading thetrack, the copy permission information or protective information storedon the pre-recorded or blank tape is determined. Thus, whether recordingor dubbing can be performed onto the loaded blank tape or from thepre-recorded tape is judged.

[0048]FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are diagrams showing the relation betweenthe protective information and copy permission information whenrecording DTV data. FIG. 2 is referred to in order to better appreciatethe following description.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 7A, when no protective information istransmitted with the DTV data and no copy permission information isstored on the blank tape loaded into the recording apparatus, recordingis permitted.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 7B, when the protective information indicativeof copy inhibition is transmitted with the DTV data and no copypermission information is stored on the blank tape loaded into therecording apparatus, recording is inhibited. If the protectiveinformation indicates that copying is permitted and no copy permissioninformation is stored on the blank tape, recording is permitted, as inFIG. 7A.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, when no protective information istransmitted with the DTV data then the copy permission informationstored on the blank tape loaded into the recording apparatus isirrelevant and recording is permitted.

[0052] When the protective information is transmitted with the DTV dataand copy permission information is stored on the blank tape in therecording apparatus, as shown in FIG. 7D, there are four possibilities.

[0053] First, when protective information indicative of copy inhibitionis transmitted and the copy permission information is indicative of copyinhibition, recording is not possible. Second and third, when theprotective information indicates that copying is permitted and the copypermission information indicates that copying is permitted or inhibited,recording is permitted. Fourth, when the protective information isindicative of copy inhibition and the copy permission informationindicates that copying is permitted, recording is permitted. In FIG. 7D,when recording is permitted pursuant to the fourth possibility, theprotective information is recorded with the DTV data, so that similarprotection and copy permission can be maintained for the dubbed data.

[0054]FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D are system diagrams showing the relationbetween the protective information and copy permission information whendubbing data from a digital VCR.

[0055] In FIG. 8A, when a medium, such as a video tape or the like,having no protective information is loaded into the reproducingapparatus, dubbing is permitted regardless of the copy permissioninformation of the recording medium, such as a blank tape, in therecording apparatus.

[0056] In FIG. 8B, when the medium, such as a pre-recorded tape or thelike, which contains protective information indicative of copyinhibition is loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a blank tapewithout copy permission information is loaded into the recordingapparatus, dubbing cannot be executed.

[0057] In FIG. 8C, when a medium having no protective information isloaded into the reproducing apparatus and a blank tape having copypermission information is loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbingis permitted.

[0058] In FIG. 8D, when a medium having protective information is loadedinto the reproducing apparatus and a blank tape having copy permissioninformation is loaded into the recording apparatus, there are fourpossible cases.

[0059] First, in the case where the protective information is indicativeof copy inhibition and the copy permission information is indicative ofcopy inhibition, dubbing cannot be executed. Second and third, when theprotective information indicates that copying is permitted and the copypermission information indicates that copying is permitted or inhibited,dubbing is permitted. Fourth, when the protective information isindicative of copy inhibition and the copy permission informationindicates that copying is permitted, dubbing is permitted. In FIG. 8D,the protective information is dubbed with the digital data for thefourth possibility, so that similar protection and copy permission canbe maintained for the dubbed data.

[0060]FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D show system diagrams for dubbing using adigital VCR when two stages or levels of protective information areused. By allocating states or levels to the protective information, evenwhen copy permission information is stored on the blank tape loaded intothe recording apparatus, dubbing onto the blank tape can be inhibited.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 9A, when the reproducing medium, such as apre-recorded tape or the like, with a first level of protectiveinformation is loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a recordingmedium, such as a blank tape or the like, having no copy permissioninformation is loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbing cannot beexecuted.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 9B, where a reproducing medium having a secondlevel of protective information is loaded into the reproducing apparatusand a recording medium having no copy permission information is loadedinto the recording apparatus, dubbing cannot be executed.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 9C, when a reproducing medium having a firstlevel of protective information is loaded into the reproducing apparatusand a recording medium having copy permission information indicatingthat recording is permitted is loaded into the recording apparatus,dubbing is permitted. In this case, the protective information isrecorded onto the blank tape together with the digital data. Therefore,similar protection and copy permission can be maintained for the dubbeddata.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 9D, if a reproducing medium having a secondlevel of protective information is loaded into the reproducing apparatusand a recording medium having copy permission information is loaded intothe recording apparatus, dubbing cannot be executed. Protectiveinformation of two levels is provided so that illegal dubbing can berestricted. The first level of protective information is set to the samelevel of the copy permission information and the second level ofprotective information is set to a level higher than that of the copypermission information.

[0065] In the foregoing explanation, the invention uses a tape as themedium, however, the invention can also be realized with a disk or thelike used as the reproducing and recording media.

[0066]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a recording and reproducing system,for example, a digital VCR or a disk apparatus, to which the inventioncan be applied. A digital VCR 201 comprises a condition judgment logiccircuit 203, a recording circuit 204, a reproducing circuit 205, andtime information forming unit 206. A condition memory 209 is providedfor a tape cassette 202 of the digital VCR. The condition memory isprepared for every recording medium capable of recording a digital videosignal. The condition memory is in a predetermined area (for instance, asubcode area) of, for example, a magnetic tape 211. Alternatively, thecondition memory may be provided in a semiconductor memory, such as aMIC (Memory in Cassette), integratedly attached to tape cassette 202. Ofcourse, the condition memory may be provided in both the subcode area ofmagnetic tape 211 and the MIC integratedly attached to the tapecassette.

[0067] In FIG. 11, an analog video signal or a digital video signal isinput from an input terminal 207. If the input signal is an analog videosignal, copyright protection information (bit1 to bit20) shown in FIGS.14 and 15 will have been superimposed in, for example, the verticalblanking period. If the input signal is a digital signal, for example,as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the copyright protective information willhave been superimposed in the digital data. The copyright protectiveinformation will be explained in detail later. The input signal issubjected to the usual processing by recording circuit 204 and isrecorded onto magnetic tape 211 through a recording and reproducing head210.

[0068] The following six kinds of information can be stored as copyrightprotective information in condition memory 209: (1) informationindicating whether recording is permitted or not or indicating theinhibition or restriction of recording; (2) prepaid fee informationcorresponding to recording duration information whose dubbing ispermitted or to an allotted recording duration; (3) informationindicating whether reproduction is permitted or not or indicatingreproduction inhibition or restriction; (4) prepaid fee informationcorresponding to reproduction duration information whose reproduction ispermitted or to its allotted reproduction duration; (5) informationindicative of a fee category corresponding to a royalty which is chargedper unit of recording duration of the recording program; and (6)information indicative of a fee category corresponding to the royaltywhich is charged per unit of time of reproduction duration of therecorded data.

[0069] In the recording mode, condition judgment logic circuit 203controls recording circuit 204 in the following three ways based on thecopyright protection information in condition memory 209. (1) When thereis no protective information indicative of dubbing inhibition orrestriction in the input signal, normal recording of the input signal byrecording circuit 204 can be performed. (2) When the protectiveinformation is indicative of dubbing inhibition or restriction and thereis no information indicating that recording is permitted in thecondition memory, normal recording of the input signal by the recordingcircuit cannot be executed. For example, recording may be inhibited ordisrupted by distorting the operation of the recorder AGC, or the inputsignal to the recorder may be scrambled, or descrambling of thereproduced input signal may be inhibited, and the like. (3) Ifprotective information is indicative of dubbing inhibition orrestriction in the input signal and information in the condition memoryindicates that recording is permitted, normal recording of the inputsignal by recording circuit 204 can be performed in accordance with therecording time information or the prepaid fee information correspondingto the recording duration. When the input signal is recorded, thecopyright protective information in the input signal is stored in thecondition memory and/or a predetermined area of magnetic tape 211, thelatter being different from the condition memory.

[0070] In place of the copyright protective information in the inputsignal, copyright protective information regarding the input signal canalso be input to condition judgment logic circuit 203 from outside ofthe digital VCR.

[0071] In the reproducing mode, condition judgment logic circuit 203controls reproducing circuit 205 in the following two ways based on thecopyright protective information in condition memory 209. (1) Whenprotective information is not present in the condition memory toindicate whether reproduction is permitted or not or to indicatereproduction inhibition or restriction, normal reproduction of therecording signal by reproducing circuit 205 can be performed. (2) Whenprotective information is present in the condition memory and indicateswhether reproduction is permitted or not or is indicative ofreproduction or restriction, normal reproduction of the recording signalby the reproducing circuit can or cannot be performed depending uponwhether the reproduction duration information or the prepaid feeinformation. The foregoing inhibition or distorting techniques may beused to prevent reproduction.

[0072] The control operation of condition judgment logic circuit 203where protective information in the input signal is indicative ofdubbing inhibition or restriction but protective information is presentin the condition memory to indicate that recording is permitted will nowbe described.

[0073] It is now assumed that the recording duration information is setto RTO and the prepaid fee information corresponding to the recordingduration is set to RMO in the copyright protection information. It isalso assumed that the royalty, which is charged per unit of time thecopyright protected input signal is recorded, is set to RCi (i=1˜n:n≧1).The royalty RCi-can be set to a single value. Also, different royaltiesRCi can be charged for every pre-recorded program, such that, forexample, the royalty is set to a high value for recently releasedmaterial, such as a software program, video-tape or the like, while theroyalty is set to a low value for material which has been released for along time, or the like.

[0074] The input signal with a royalty equal to RCi, which is recordedfor a certain duration RT1, will now be described. The recordingduration RT1 is obtained by time information forming unit 206. A royaltyRCP which is charged for the duration RT1 is obtained by the followingequation.

RCP=RCi×RT1

[0075] When the recording is completed, the recording durationinformation or the prepaid fee information corresponding to therecording duration in the copyright protective information in conditionmemory 209 is rewritten. The rewriting of RT0 or RM0 can be performedonce at the end of the dubbing or can be performed at a predeterminedtime interval. The recording duration information RT0 is rewritten bythe following equation.

RT0−RT1

RT0

[0076] When RT0 is determined for a certain RCi (i≠1) and the inputsignal has a different RC1, the recording duration information RT0 isconverted and rewritten as follows.

RT0−(RT1×RC1/Rci)

RT0

[0077] The prepaid fee information RM0 corresponding to the recordingduration is rewritten as follows.

RM0−RCP

RM0

[0078] When RT0 or RM0 is equal to 0, dubbing is inhibited orrestricted. Thus, normal recording of the input signal cannot beperformed.

[0079] Condition judgment logic circuit 203 discriminates whether RT0 orRM0 is equal to 0, therefore, RT0 or RM0 can be used as informationindicating whether recording is permitted or not or indicating recordinginhibition or restriction.

[0080] The recording duration information RT0, the prepaid feeinformation RM0 corresponding to the recording duration, and the royaltyRCi (i=1˜n:n≧1) charged for the recording duration of the copyrightprotected input signal can be replaced by information RT0 indicative ofthe number of times the data is permitted to be recorded, the prepaidfee information RM0 corresponding to the number of times the data ispermitted to be recorded, and the royalty RCi (i=1˜n:n≧1) charged forthe number of times the copyrighted protected input signal is permittedto be recorded, respectively.

[0081] Upon dubbing, the royalty RCi charged for the recording durationthe input signal or the royalty input from outside of the digital VCRcan be stored to the condition memory as information indicative of a feecategory corresponding to the royalty of the pre-recorded program.

[0082] Further, the royalty RCi charged per unit of time the inputsignal is reproduced or the royalty input from outside of the digitalVCR can be stored to the condition memory as information indicative of afee category corresponding to the royalty of the pre-recorded program.

[0083] The operation of condition judgment logic circuit 203 whereprotective information is present in the condition memory to determinewhether reproduction is permitted or not or whether reproduction isinhibited or restricted will now be explained.

[0084] It is assumed that the reproduction duration information is setto PT0 and the prepaid fee information corresponding to the reproductionduration is set to PM0. It is also assumed that the royalty which ischarged for the duration of the reproduction of the copyright protectedinput signal is set to PCi (i=1˜n:n≧1). The royalty PCi can be set to asingle value. A plurality of royalties PCi also can be set to allowdifferent royalties to be charged for every pre-recorded or broadcastprogram so that, for example, the royalty is set to a high value for arecently released program and the royalty is set to a low value forprogram which has been released for a long time, or the like.

[0085] In this instance, the input signal whose royalty is PCi isreproduced for a duration PT1. The reproducing duration PT1 is obtainedby duration information derived from time information forming unit 206.A royalty PCP which is charged for the duration PT1 is obtained asfollows.

PCP=PCi×PT1

[0086] When the reproduction is completed, the reproduction durationinformation or the prepaid fee information corresponding to thereproduction duration of the copyright protective information isrewritten. The rewriting of PT0 or PM0 can be performed once at the endof the dubbing or can be performed at predetermined time intervals. Thereproducing duration information PT0 is rewritten as follows.

PT0−PT1

PT0

[0087] When PT0 is determined for a certain PCi (i≠1), and the inputsignal has a different PC1, the reproducing duration information PT0 isrewritten as follows.

PT0−(PT1×PC1/PCi)

PT0

[0088] The prepaid fee information PM0 corresponding to the reproductionduration is obtained by the following expression.

PM0−PCP

PM0

[0089] When PT0 or PM0 is equal to 0, reproduction is inhibited orrestricted. Thus, normal reproduction of the recording signal cannot beexecuted.

[0090] Condition judgment logic circuit 203 discriminates whether PT0 orPM0 is equal to 0 or not, therefore, PT0 or PM0 can be used asinformation which indicates whether reproduction is permitted or not orwhich indicates reproduction inhibition or restriction.

[0091] The reproduction duration information PT0, the prepaid feeinformation PM0 corresponding to the reproducing duration, and theroyalty PCi (i=1˜n:n≧1) charged per unit of time the copyright protectedinput signal is reproduced can be replaced by the information PT0indicative of the number of times the signal is permitted to bereproduced, the prepaid fee information PM0 corresponding to the numberof times the signal is permitted to be reproduced, and the royalty PCi(i=1˜n:n≧1) charged for the number of times the copyright protectedinput signal is permitted to be reproduced, respectively.

[0092]FIG. 12 shows an example of a recording system, for example, arecording system of a digital VCR, to which the invention can beapplied. A digital VCR 201 is comprised of condition judgment logiccircuit 203, recording circuit 204, and time information forming unit206. Tape cassette 202 of the digital VCR has condition memory 209.Those portions having the same reference numerals as in FIG. 11 havesimilar construction and function, therefore, their descriptions areomitted.

[0093]FIG. 13 shows an example of a reproducing system, for example, areproducing system of a digital VCR, to which the invention is applied.Digital VCR 201 is comprised of condition judgment logic circuit 203,reproducing circuit 205, and time information forming unit 206. Tapecassette 202 of the digital VCR has condition memory 209.These-components correspond to those designated by the same referencenumerals in FIG. 11 having the same construction and functions, andtherefore, their descriptions are omitted.

[0094]FIGS. 14 and 15 are diagrams which show copyright protectiveinformation superimposed in the V blanking period of an analog videosignal. The copyright protective information is a signal of 20 bitswhich is superimposed in the V blanking period. A reference bit isprovided before the signal of 20 bits.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 15, the signal of 20 bits is constructed byword0 of six bits, word1 of four bits, word2 of four bits, and CRC ofsix bits. Basic parameter and identification ID information regarding atransmission formation are inserted at word0. Bits indicating thepresence or absence of copyright protection and indicating whether thesoftware is original or not are included at word1. For example, thethird bit of word1 indicates the presence or absence of copyrightprotection. When the third bit is equal to “0”, copyright protection ispresent. When the third bit is equal to “1”, there is no copyrightprotection. The fourth bit of the word1 indicates whether the softwareis original or not. When the fourth bit is equal to “0”, there is nodesignation. When the fourth bit is equal to “1”, the software is arecorded software which was commercially released. A category code ofthe apparatus is inserted in the word2.

[0096]FIGS. 16A, 16B and 17 are diagrams which show copyright protectiveinformation superimposed on a digital video signal. As shown in FIGS.16A and 16B, a dubbing number restriction code 212 consisting of onebyte is inserted in the head portion of main data 213 and 214 in animage data block VB and an audio data block AB, respectively. In thedubbing number restriction code, for example, as shown in FIG. 17, thehead bit is a check bit indicating whether the software is copyrightprotected or not, the next two bits contain data indicative of thepresent number of dubbing times and the remaining five bits containclassification data indicating whether a source of the image data is atape, a disk, or a broadcast program.

[0097] For example, if the image and audio data are copyright protectedand the source is a magnetic tape which has already been dubbed once,dubbing number restriction code 212 is “101XXXXX” (the XXXXX indicatesthat the category code is set to a “don't care” state).

[0098]FIG. 18 is a diagram which show copyright protective informationstored in condition memory 209. The copyright protective information isdescribed by, for example, a pack structure. The “pack” indicates aminimum unit of a data group and each pack is constructed of five bytes.The first byte is a header and the remaining four bytes contain data.The eight bits of the header are divided to four upper bits and fourlower bits, to form a hierarchy structure. Although a fixed length offive bytes is set as the basic length of the pack structure, a structurehaving a variable length can also be used.

[0099] The four upper bits (D00) of PC1 contain information indicativeof a fee category corresponding to the royalty charged per unit of timefor recording a pre-recorded program. Sixteen dubbing fee categories canbe expressed in those four bits.

[0100] The four lower bits (D01) of PC1 contain information indicativeof a fee category corresponding to the royalty charged per unit of timea pre-recorded program is reproduced. Sixteen reproduction feecategories can be expressed in these four bits.

[0101] Byte PC2 indicates recording duration information or prepaid feeinformation corresponding to the recording duration. The recordingduration information or the prepaid fee information corresponding to therecording duration can be expressed by the bits (D02) of PC2 within arange 0 to 255 times as large as a unit of time for recording or a unitprepaid fee.

[0102] Byte PC3 indicates reproduction duration information-or prepaidfee information corresponding to its reproduction duration. Thereproduction duration information or the prepaid fee informationcorresponding to its reproduction duration can be expressed by the bits(D03) of PC3 within a range 0 to 255 times as large as a unit of timefor reproduction or a unit prepaid fee.

[0103] The four upper bits (D04) of PC4 contain information indicatingwhether the recording is permitted or not or indicating recordinginhibition or restriction. Thus, the presence or absence of thecopyright protection and, for example, the number of times the signal isdubbed can be expressed.

[0104] The four lower bits (D05) of PC4 contain information indicatingwhether the reproduction is permitted or not or indicating reproductioninhibition or restriction. Thus, the presence or absence of thecopyright protection and, for example, the number of times the signal isreproduced can be expressed.

[0105] Although an example of the digital VCR has been described so faras a recording and reproducing system, the invention can also besimilarly embodied in a disk apparatus or a recording and reproducingsystem using another recording medium.

[0106] According to the invention, permitting, restricting or inhibitingthe recording or dubbing of digital data can easily be controlled byusing protective information and copy permission information. Thecopyright can be further protected by using multiple stages or levels ofprotective information. Thus, although a broadcast video image can beseen on a television or a monitor, the recording of the video image canbe controlled. By recording the protective information of the originaldata with the data when copies are made, similar protection/copypermission can be maintained even when the dubbed/recorded contents arerecorded or dubbed again.

[0107] According to the invention, permission, inhibition, orrestriction of the dubbing of the information signal can be effectivelyperformed at the time of recording by using the recording permissioninformation used to determine recording permission, a recordableduration of the information signal, or the number of times theinformation signal is permitted to be recorded and copyright protectiveinformation indicative of the fee for recording a predetermined unit oftime of the information signal or the number of times the informationsignal is permitted to be recorded stored in the recording medium.

[0108] Even if the fee for recording a predetermined unit of time of theinformation signal or the number of times the information signal isrecorded is set so as to be different for every information signal, aroyalty for the dubbing of each information signal can be correctlycharged.

[0109] According to the invention, the reproduction of the informationsignal can be permitted, inhibited or restricted effectively at the timeof the recording using the reproduction permission information todetermine reproduction permission for a reproducible duration of theinformation signal or the number of times the information signal ispermitted to be reproduced and copyright protection informationindicative of the fee for reproducing the information signal for apredetermined unit of time or the number of times the information signalis reproduced stored in the recording medium.

[0110] Even when the fee regarding the reproduction for a predeterminedunit of time of the information signal or the number of times theinformation signal is reproduced is set so as to be different for everyinformation signal, a royalty for the reproduction of each informationsignal can be correctly charged.

[0111] The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodimentsbut many modifications and variations are possible within the spirit andscope of the appended claims of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A recording medium for recording digital data containingpreviously recorded auxiliary data indicating whether or not saiddigital data can be recorded.
 2. A recording medium according to claim1, wherein said recording medium is a tape-like recording medium andsaid auxiliary data is previously recorded in a memory section of saidtape-like recording medium.
 3. A medium for recording digital datatransmitted from an outside source, said medium containing informationindicative of copy permission to permit or inhibit copying of saiddigital data onto said medium.
 4. A medium according to claim 3 whereinsaid information acts with auxiliary data transmitted with said digitaldata to determine whether or not said digital data can be recorded. 5.AV apparatus comprising a control unit and a recording unit into which arecording medium capable of recording digital data is loaded, whereinsaid recording unit includes means for recording said digital data ontosaid recording medium based on a first auxiliary data stored in saidrecording medium and a second auxiliary data transmitted with saiddigital data.
 6. An AV system comprising: a control unit and AVapparatus into which a recording medium capable of recording digitaldata is loaded, wherein said AV apparatus includes means for recordingsaid digital data onto said recording medium based on a first auxiliarydata recorded in said recording medium and a second auxiliary datatransmitted with said digital data.
 7. A recording medium comprising: arecording section on which an information signal is capable of beingrecorded; and a recording condition memory in which recording permissioninformation representing a recording duration of said information signalor a number of times said information signal is permitted to be recordedis stored.
 8. A medium according to claim 7, wherein copyrightinformation indicative of a fee for recording a predetermined durationtime of said information signal or for recording said information signalsaid number of times is recorded in said recording condition memory. 9.A recording medium comprising: a recording section on which aninformation signal is recorded; and a reproducing condition memory inwhich reproduction permission information representing a reproductionduration of said information signal or a number of times saidinformation signal is permitted to be reproduced is stored.
 10. A mediumaccording to claim 9, wherein copyright information indicative of a feefor reproducing a predetermined duration of said information signal orfor reproducing said information signal said number of times is recordedin said reproducing condition memory.
 11. Recording apparatuscomprising: recording means for recording an information signal onto arecording medium, said recording medium including a recording conditionmemory; control means for controlling said recording means in responseto recording permission information stored in said recording conditionmemory, said recording permission information representing a recordingduration of said information signal or a number of times saidinformation signal is permitted to be recorded, wherein said informationsignal is only recorded for-a predetermined duration or said number oftimes and said control means includes means to inhibit normal recordingof said information signal at other times.
 12. Reproducing apparatuscomprising: reproducing means for reproducing an information signal froma recording medium, the recording medium including a reproducingcondition memory; control means for controlling said reproducing meansin response to reproduction permission information stored in saidreproducing condition memory, said reproduction permission informationrepresenting a reproduction duration or a number of times saidinformation signal is permitted to be reproduced, wherein saidinformation signal is only reproduced for a predetermined duration orsaid number of times and said control means includes means to inhibitnormal reproduction of said information signal at other times. 13.Recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: recording means forrecording said information signal on said recording medium, saidrecording medium including a condition memory; reproducing means forreproducing said information signal from said recording medium; andcontrol means for controlling said recording means in response torecording permission information stored in said condition memory, saidrecording permissing information representing a recording duration or anumber of times,said information signal is permitted to be recorded, andfor controlling said reproducing means in response to reproductionpermission information stored in said condition memory, saidreproduction permission information representing a duration or a numberof times said information signal is permitted to be reproduced, whereinsaid information signal is only recorded for a predetermined duration orsaid number of times and said control means includes means to inhibitnormal recording of said information signal at other times, and whereinsaid information signal is only reproduced for a predetermined durationor said number of times and said control means further includes means toinhibit normal reproduction of said information signal at other times.14. A recording method comprising the steps of: recording an informationsignal onto a recording medium; and controlling said recording accordingto recording permission information stored in a recording conditionmemory of said recording medium and representing a recording duration ofsaid information signal or a number of times said information signal ispermitted to be recorded, wherein said information signal is onlyrecorded for a predetermined duration or said number of times and normalrecording of said information signal is inhibited at other times.
 15. Areproducing method comprising the steps of: reproducing an informationsignal from a recording medium; and controlling said reproducingaccording to reproduction permission information stored in a reproducingcondition memory of said recording medium and representing areproduction duration or a number of times said information signal ispermitted to be reproduced, wherein said information signal is onlyreproduced for a predetermined duration or said number of times andnormal reproduction of said information signal is inhibited at othertimes.